Watering-column for railroad water-tanks



J. N. POAGE. Watering-Column for Railroad Water-Tank's;

No. 223,607. Patentedlan.13,1880.

column for supplying alocomotive and throwing the spout into its normal position, owing UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

JOHN N. POAGE, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

WATERlNG-COLUMN FOR RAILROAD WATER-TANKS SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 223,607, dated January 13, 1880.

Application filed December 1, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN N. POAGE, of (lincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Watering- Golumns for Railroad Water-Tanks, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention is in the nature of an improvement upon that for which Letters Patent have been previously granted to me, and particularly Letters PatentNo. 217,817, dated July 22,1879. Said patents describe an improved watering-column for railway use, consistin g, essentially, of a vertical column seated in a suitable valve-chamber, and provided with suitable means for keeping its lateral discharge-spout normally in line with the track, and with valves and operatinginechanism for controlling the water-supply, and for freeing the stand-pipe as a provision against freezing.

In the further practical use of said invention it was found that after having used the to the shortening of the column and the failore of the relief-valve to operate quickly enough, some water remained in the spout, which spilled out upon the ground. This, in freezing weather, was found to be objectionable.

Again, in the construction and putting together of the apparatus for use, it was found difficult to adjust the column with reference to the valve-seat so as to attain that accuracy absolutely essential to insure a proper fit of the valve upon its seat, or to retain it thereafter, owing to the settling of foundations and wear of parts.

My presentinvention is designed to remedy these disadvantages 5 and it consists, first, in a relief-valve ofpeculiar construction, with mechanism for operating the same independently of the vertical play of the column; and, second, in an improved construction of the valve-chamber, and in the mode of connecting the column therewith, whereby the necessary vertical play and any accidental oscillation or defective alignment of the latter are permitted without affecting the valve in relation to its seat.

The latter feature of myinvention, in which the valvechamber, with the valve, seat, and

guide, constitute a separate and distinct struct- F is the valve-chamber, which is cylindrical in its general form, having an inlet-aperture, F, entering its periphery, and the vertical column A coincident with its axis. At the lower side or bottom of the valve-chamber is the seat of the main or supply valve G. 1 construct this seat of a separate piece of metal for convenience of manipulation, and bolt it to the valve-chamber, as shown in the drawings, a suitable aperture being provided for the purpose. The valve-seat proper is annular, and consists of a ring, H, of rubber or other suitable material, secured between flanges, upon which rests the edge of the hollow cylindrical valve Gr, operated by lugs or collars c 5 upon the rod I, which passes loosely through a cross head or bar, g, secured by the valve. The lugs '6 i are set far-enough apart to permita certain amount of play of the rod in the crow-bar g.

The lower end of the valve-rod I passes loosely through the upper head of the reliefvalve V, and is secured by a nut, n. a

The valveV is a bottle-shaped piston-valve, fitting and moving in a short cylinder, K, secured in the lower aperture or relief-exit of the chamber, having its upper part or neck provided with guide-wings o to keep it in position when depressed and open.

The operation of this portion of my invention is as follows: The valve-rod, in moving upward, at once lifts the waste-valveVto where its cylindrical portion fills and closes the cylinder K, in which it plays. This occurs before the lower lug c of the valve-rod reaches the cross-bar g and lifts the main valveG. As the main valve is then lifted the wastevalve also moves upward, but keeps its aperture closed. In summer weather, when there is no danger of freezing, the waste-valve V is wedged up, so that the packing-ring m upon its lower flange will form a water-tight joint against the bottom of the valve-seat casting. In this position the valve-rod plays vertically through the waste-valve without hinderance.

In my said former invention, to which reference has been made, the vertical column projected downward into the valve-chamber through a suitable stuffing box, and formed the guide forthe valve G, which, therefore, was governed in its movement by the alignment of the pipe A. I now, however, introduce into the top of the valve-chamber a separate casting, O, which forms a socket for the reception and play of the vertical column A and a guide for the movement of the valve G. This socket O is cylindrical, and provided with an extra flange, f, by means of which it is bolted securely to the top of the chamber F. The lower portion 0, is about the diameter of the vertical column, and is bored interiorly to form a guide for the valve G. Immediately above this portion it is enlarged, as shown at 0 to allow for any oscillation or play of the vertical column.

At the top of the socket is arranged a stuffing-boX formed by the ring D, secured by the flangef and a rib, r, on the inner surface of the socket near the top. Between these two surfaces is secured a packing-ring, E, of any suitable elastic material.

A leather ring is secured at the lower end of the socket by a ring, D, bolted thereto, thus forming a packing for the valve-guide.

It will be readily seen from'this construction and arrangement of parts that the vertical column is independent entirely of the'valve, and that neither its vertical play nor any oscillation or defective alignment can affect the seating of the valve.

Having fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a wateringcolumn of the character described, having a main valve for regulating the supply to the valve-chamber, the combination of a relief-valve having a movement independent of the main-valve, and mechanism, substantially as described, for operating said relief-valve to close it prior to opening the main valve and independently of the vertical play of the column, as set forth.

2. In a Watering-column of the character described, having a main valve for regulating the supply to the valve-chamber, the combination of a relief-valve capable of independent movement from the main valve, and normally standing open, with mechanism, substantially as described, for closing the relief before the main valve is opened and by the act of open ing the latter, as set forth.

3. Thepiston-valveV,constructed as shown, having aneck provided with guide-wings and operating in a cylinder, K, forming the exitopening, in combination with the main valverod, provided with stops '5 v1 for the operation of the main valve, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The valve-rod I, provided with stops 4; -i, in combination with the main valve G and relief-valve V, arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In combination with the valve-chamber F and vertically-moving pipe A of a wateringcolumn, a socket-piece, 0, adapted to be secured to the chamber, forming a guide and stufling-box for the vertical play of the column and a guide for the supply-valve, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. The socket-piece O, constructed as shown, having its lower part bored as a guide-barrel for the reception and play of the main valve, and its upper part arranged to form astuffin gbox for the play of the vertical pipe, and an enlargement between the two to permit lateral oscillation of the vertical pipe.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 22d day of November, 1879.

JOHN N. POAGE. Witnesses;

L. M. HOSEA, J. A. RUTHERFORD. 

